Wednesday, January 19, 2011

During some time in our lives, we all reach a turning point.....for most of us it has happened more than once. Sometimes those moments, those "points" are triggered by major events, often just a buildup of day to day moments activates the turn or something that someone says or does.

A few weeks ago, a student experienced a turning point in class. I didn't realize it at the time, but they told me this week of the profound change that had taken place. It started with a comment,

a rather out of place comment..........but I let it go, assured them that no offense had been taken

and continued with class. I noticed that each time the student came back to class they were different, but I didn't make the connection. Then this week the student told me, that comment and the feelings that they had felt afterwards caused a major turning point in their life.... because I chose to react in a way they did not expect.

So, I began to think about turning points in my own life..........the death of my dad twenty years ago caused a major reevaluation of my life, illness caused major lifestyle changes for me,

but so has the kindness of strangers and words from friends and family, some good, some bad.

In college I had offers from corporations in NYC, I came back to Birmingham instead and lived a very different life than I would have in the Big Apple I am sure. A turning point that really seemed so insignificant at the time was becoming a yoga teacher........I was thinking of maybe teaching a small community class once a week, instead I have taught thousands and it became

a passion.

I am grateful for my turning points, even when I made a "wrong" turn.......I am here, I am where I am suppose to be, because of my turns.........who knows when the next one will take place.

3 comments:

Interesting post. I've had a few turning points. Having my first child changed me completely. I had never really thought about anyone but myself until then. It may seem strange, but blogging has been a turning point for me. I don't feel alone any more. I know my family loves me, but to have people here like my writing and like me is wonderful.

All I have ever been is a mother and housewife. I kind of felt unheard and not appreciated. But people here are so kind and they listen and seem to get me. I did have friends many years ago, but I got sick and we parted. For me, blogging is like getting friends back.

Great post Jilda. So true too. I am here, the person I have become because of the choices and turns I took on the road of life. If I die tomorrow, I know that I have made someone else's life a better place and have given a lot of love to a lot of different people. Loved this one!!!!